Warning: Contains spoilers for episode 1 of Mob Psycho 100 Season 3!Although it features a variety of creepy ghosts, the most horrific part of Mob Psycho 100 comes from an all too real threat. The series has been good at tying its plot and antagonists to the growth of its central character Mob and this threat is no exception. But in its depiction of a rueful man with nothing but regrets, the series likely hits home with a lot of viewers more than it usually does in its depictions of ghosts.
Mob Psycho 100 is an anime produced by Bones based on the manga of the same name by ONE following an incredibly powerful psychic named Mob as he deals with problems both supernatural and mundane. While ONE's other manga One-Punch Man is more famous and epic, Mob Psycho 100 is more personal and thought-provoking. The series is known for both its incredibly unique art style and its great cast of characters, who are able to be both comedic and dramatic depending on what the story requires. But the beating heart of the series is the growth that Mob goes through as he matures, which is where much of the anime’s central drama comes from. The third season premiere is really leaning into this, heavily featuring Mob struggling to fill out a form listing what he wants to do in the future. To hammer home how important his decision is, the episode includes an exorcism job that shows him what his fate maybe if he doesn’t take his future seriously.
Reigen, Mob, and Serizawa, another powerful psychic (although one not nearly as strong as Mob), are hired to help a middle-aged man who blames all of his misfortune on evil spirits. However, as he explains his woes, it seems more and more evident that the man himself is responsible for his current situation, but finds solace in blaming an external force and marinating in his negativity. The strength of his negative feelings are so strong that they manifest in a living wraith formed out of his suffocating cigarette smoke. While the wraith is easy to defeat, the man’s utter hopelessness is harder for Mob to reconcile with, as to him, it represents where he could wind up if he messes up his future.
Mob Psycho 100's Scariest Threat is The Fear of Self Destruction
Given the man’s portrayal, it is no wonder Mob is so affected. The man lives surrounded by piles of trash that he has hoarded in a dimly lit room infested with cockroaches. His constant cigarette smoking has left his teeth rotten and yellow, which is shown in an unsettling closeup. The level of disgusting and disturbing detail that the anime puts into portraying him and his surroundings makes him easily more terrifying than any of the supernatural threats the show has featured thus far. And he is even more terrifying for being an actual phenomenon in real life.
Many people in the real world also struggle with the question of whether they’ve wasted their life when they become dissatisfied in their middle age. While these midlife crises can lead to positive change or be a temporary phase, for some it can lead to a place of despair and negativity. Mob Psycho 100 is already proving it is one of October 2022's best anime by producing a genuinely terrifying depiction of what people can become if they give into their own negativity, which is far scarier than its less realistic threats.
The latest episode of Mob Psycho 100 is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Hulu.